Work in progress

submitted almost 10 years ago by brownmoustache

There's a common 'backyard weed' (known to be edible) known as (sp?) Sorrel. Should be familiar to most, it sprouts as a tricot of heart shaped leaves, and has a quite unique refreshingly sour taste. I have some soaking in PG. If you never hear from me again, it was a terrible idea. Wish me luck.. seriously, grab a sprig and have a munch, it's interestingly sour.

Comments

5 points

by queuetuealmost 10 years agoProud Sidebar Reader!

Sorrel is a tender perennial with large leaves, resembling spinach that you would not normally find wild. Sorrel is very tasty and I keep it in my garden, great for soups, sandwiches and herb mixes, and lightly in salads, tasting a bit like unripe wild strawberries.

Wood sorrel (also known as oxalis) is a wild herb with small heart-shaped leaves and small yellow flowers high in oxalic acid. I'm a big proponent of people harvesting oxalis, and I feel like your 17 lbs of rhubarb below might be a reference to one of my posts suggesting it's consumption on a permaculture, homebrewing or wildcrafting board. Oxalic acid is prevalent in many green leafy foods, and for some reason, rhubarb and oxalis wound up with a bad rap for it.

You are talking about wood sorrel.

While I am a fan of oxalis, and I think oxalic acid toxicity is very overblown, inhaling it is known to produce effects, such as irritation of the respiratory tract, ulceration of the mucous membranes, headaches, nervousness, cough, vomiting, emaciation, back pain (due to kidney injury), and weakness.

Try what you want, but please leave a note explaining what you're attempting, and don't send them here - it's not our fault! :)

3 points

by brownmoustachealmost 10 years ago

That's definitely the plant I was referring to, thanks for the clarification. Oh, and thanks for saving me from a visit to 'WishIhadn'tDoneThatsville'. Binned. :)

3 points

by skiddlzninjaalmost 10 years agoThat one moderator. You know, the honey guy.

>The plant's sharp taste is due to oxalic acid, which is mildly toxic.

Don't do it.

3 points

by Vaignaalmost 10 years ago

You'll have to eat approximately 17 whole rhubarbs to get a deadly dose of oxalic acid so he should be fine. :)

5 points

by skiddlzninjaalmost 10 years agoThat one moderator. You know, the honey guy.

Eating and inhaling are two VERY different demons. I'm not talking about the dangers of this toxin being metabolized, but the exposure of bronchioles and alveoli to the toxin, and the damage it may cause.

1 points

by brownmoustachealmost 10 years ago

He's dead Jim...

2 points

by tehpenguinsalmost 10 years ago

I just picked some mustard greens at a farm the best the day and has q nibble. I like it :)

2 points

by Tankbeanalmost 10 years ago

I have three varieties of garden sorrel growing (Rumex acetosa). Well worth growing. Same flavor as common/wood sorrel but has spinach sized leaves. Awesome on sandwiches. Let me know how your experiment gows.

1 points

by surfishermanalmost 10 years ago

As long as a dog didn't take a shit and piss on the weed i suppose it's OK but i don't know much.

1 points

by dbbldz123almost 10 years ago

I love sorrel! Please let us know if you achieve something other than 'Sour Grass' as that would be my guess what this could taste like...

1 points

by brownmoustachealmost 10 years ago

UPDATE: Tried a tiny bit. Used the white part of the root (from young sprouts) as the leaves released chlorophyll.

Notes: No sour bite, in fact devoid of any flavour. On a positive note, no lung irritation.

Conclusion: No such thing as a failed experiment, but this came close.